Apologies to my sister

She rang me to complain that I hadn't updated so she didn't know what I was up to. PUSHY!! So just for you Kirsti....

Well, Oscar has been a bit ill which is one reason I haven't posted. Don't know what it is - he's got a high temperature and is out of sorts but no other symptoms - apart from waking up at night again which is not fun. He was up 4 times last night and then woke up at 6.15. I'm exhausted.

It's been really really hot too. Yesterday we went to Mudchute city farm but Oscar wasn't really impressed at all - he was too hot and bothered. I kept spraying him with water. Again, he wasn't impressed. He just isn't well.

We also went to Greenwich to get a frappucino and Oz played with his gang of baby mates - I'll post a picture above.

What else....spent the whole day in the garden today - we bought Oz his first paddling pool - he has such a temperature we thought it was an ideal way to keep him cool - again, I'll post a pic.

That's all I'm afraid - I'm too knackered to type more. I'll update a bit tomorrow if anything happens - it's a Bank Holiday weekend so it's long and lazy.

Oh! Big Brother started on Friday night. I'm already hooked. So I may not update THAT much!

Paddling pool joy 

Oscar's baby gang 

I stole this from Kara

I'm a blog thief - but unlike some people (see Beege's blog here) I credit the creativity of my fellow bloggers - this is one of my friend's - the lovely Kara. I think she stole it from someone else!

There wasn't a number one on Kara's blog so I have no idea what it was...

2. Were you named after anyone? I don't think so. I was going to be called Adam Beauregard if I was a boy though - Beau Reeve....can you imagine?

3. Do you wish on stars? Always.

4. When did you last cry? Ok this is embarrasing but today at a Chelsea Flower Show programme on TV which showed people who won best in show medals - they were so happy and I'm so premenstrual...

5. Do you like your handwriting?NO! It's illegible. I started to learn joined up writing in England then we moved to Moscow and I was taught american swirly cursive - so my handwriting is a mixture of the two. I was always in trouble for it at school and will now always type rather than write.

6. What is your favorite lunch meat? I like corned beef - does that count as lunch meat? Lunch meat is an american word...

7. What is your birth date? August 1st

8. What is your most embarrassing CD? I have so many! I have Hearsay's album (for non UK readers they were the first group to win Pop Stars - like American Idol for groups)

9. If you were another person, would YOU be friends with you? I think so. I'm kind of nice.

10. Do you have a journal? Is this a journal? The reason I started this was to have it as a diary as I refuse to write one (see above on handwriting)

11. Do you use sarcasm a lot? No - I'd like to but I'm not witty.

13. Would you bungee jump? Again, I'd like to but I'm not insane

14. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? I'm SO bad for this - never.

15. Do you think that you are strong? Yes. I gave birth to a 9lb 14oz baby. And now he's 9 months old I carry him around a lot - I have muscles I never knew I had.

16. What is your favorite ice cream flavor? Currently Completely Mintal by Skinny Cow - if I wasn't on a diet, Phish Food

17. Shoe Size? 9 UK size which I think is 11 US

18. Red or pink? Red

19. What is your least favorite thing about yourself? My procrastination.

20. Who do you miss most? My sister who lives in America

22. What color pants and shoes are you wearing? Now in the UK my pants are my underwear and they are purple. My trousers are brown and I have no shoes on

23. What are you listening to right now? The sound of silence from my son's bedroom - bliss.

24. Last thing you ate? a WHOLE TUB of skinny cow Funilla ice cream - and I have weightwatchers tomorrow - doh!

25. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? purple

26. What is the weather like right now? It's night time so it's dark and I can't see. It was raining earlier...

27. Last person you talked to on the phone? DH's best friend Rob who is obsessed with Dr Who

28. The first thing you notice about the opposite sex? Smiles

30. Favorite Drink?Diet Coke with Lime

31. Favorite Sport? i HATE sport of all kinds

32. Hair Color? Strawberry Blonde

33. Eye Color? Green/Blue depending on my mood

34. Do you wear contacts? For acting jobs yes - but my eyes get so dry...

35. Favorite Food? Sushi

36. Last Movie You Watched? Meet the Fockers

37. Favorite Day Of The Year? Christmas Day

38. Scary Movies or Happy Endings? happy endings,

39. Summer Or winter? Winter.

40. Hugs OR Kisses? Both! I'm greedy

41. What Is Your Favorite Dessert? Chocolate cake and ice cream

44. Living Arrangements? 3 bed house

45. What Books Are You Reading?I'm reading a whole stack of Charles De Lint books I got secondhand - bliss

46. What's On Your Mouse Pad? Don't use one - optical mouse

47. What Did You Watch Last night on TV? ER which I had taped from Sunday

48. Favorite Smells? Vanilla and my son's head

49. Favorite Sounds? At the moment Skinny Marinky Dinky Dink

50. Rolling Stones or Beatles? Beatles - never liked the Stones even though my mother knew Mick Jagger at LSE and used to have lunch with him a lot

51. What's the furthest you've been from home? Australia

52. Do you have any special talents? Too many to tell you about!

53. What is your ring tone? Sex and the City

I am sure I've answered some of these before but cant remember if I blogged them - if you're having deja vu I apologise for repeating myself!

OO - Time for bed!

Superchef me

I've been cooking up a storm the last couple of days - read my chapter on 9-12 months feeding in my Annabel Karmel book - she is my food guru. And I'm trying to get Oscar to eat more solid lumpy food.

I made some chicken and apple balls for him - they looked like the kind you'd buy in a shop and I was very proud of myself. He spat them out.....and I made a rice pudding from scratch. He spat that out too!

I tried not to take it personally. I made a very lumpy bolognaise sauce with macaroni and he ate all that. And today I made cauliflower cheese and some fish with cheese and broccoli which he seemed to like.

He's been difficult today - very clingy, won't let me out of his sight. He was in the creche today while I did aqua and he spat his food on them too - but he ate his dinner no problem this evening.

He's exhausted me today. What with being on my feet slaving over a hot stove, bouncing around in the swimming pool and singing Alouette at the top of my voice to entertain a whinging brat....I've got dinner to cook for DH and I and then I'm off to bed - haven't even had time to watch Desperate Housewives (I taped it last night)

Yawn!

I've been tagged

My sister passed this on - it's been going round my favourite blogs for a while

Here's how it goes: I pick five of these "If I could..." sentences and finish them, then after I'm all done, I tag 3 more people to do it.

If I could be a scientist...If I could be a farmer...If I could be a musician...If I could be a doctor...If I could be a painter...If I could be a gardener...If I could be a missionary...If I could be a chef...If I could be an architect...If I could be a linguist...If I could be a psychologist...If I could be a librarian...If I could be an athlete...If I could be a lawyer...If I could be an inn-keeper...If I could be a professor...If I could be a writer...If I could be a llama-rider...If I could be a bonnie pirate...If I could be an astronaut...If I could be a world famous blogger...If I could be a justice on any one court in the world...If I could be married to any current famous political figure..

1. If I could be a chef I'd cook Poppy dinner to say thank you for cooking thanksgiving dinner for me.

2. If I could be an astronaut I'd make my husband jealous

3. If I could be a librarian I'd make lots of noise and blame it on other people

4. If I could be a painter I'd paint Oscar's portrait every day

5. If I could be a scientist, I'd cure cancer

Not very imaginative I know but it's Saturday morning.

I tag Nic, Beege and Jodi

A funny and a hormonal day

My lovely friend Poppy pointed me to this - very very funny - go read it. Then come back!

I've been feeling very hormonal today even though it's a bit early for PMT. A couple of my friends have had babies in the last couple of weeks and also I keep seeing pregnant women everywhere. And I want to be pregnant again.

Am I insane? Especially since Oscar is getting harder and harder to entertain....I saw a woman at our swimming lesson this week who is about 7 months pregnant, balancing her 1 year old on her bump...and I welled......!!!! I want another one!!!

Talking of swiming lessons, Oz is excelling - his grandmother came to watch and he definitely showed off - swam on his own with a float longer than any other baby. And held on to the side like a little pro. He really is a water baby!

We also joined Monkey Music today - I'd resisted because it isn't cheap but 2 of my friends go and their babies love it.....and Oscar's child benefit money came through today so I thought - sod it - let's spend it on half an hour a week of fun. Oscar got to wear a viking hat. I took a picture with my phone and will post it. He also banged a drum and had great fun bouncing on my lap to the "Look at monkey" song.

Oh I'm rambling....I'm a bit tired. Oz woke up at 5am this morning but went back to sleep at 6...which is more than I did.

DH is still at work. It's half past seven...grrrrrr

Me and my boy

The teeth!

DH has been away since Friday morning at a conference (BAP which makes me laugh - you'll get it if you're northern - it's British Association of Planetariums) and I was not looking forward to 48 hours on my own with Oscar, lovely though he is. I hate being on my own - as you know, I go out all the time with him so I'm not stuck in the house.

But we've had a lovely lovely time! Yesterday we went to the library for a baby bounce singing session, then met friends in the afternoon. I had a nice quiet evening with my Charles De Lint book and a chinese takeaway. Went to bed early.

Today we went swimming this morning and then shopping in the afternoon - then my Mum came round to visit. Oscar was charming EVERYONE in the supermarket by giggling his head off. He went down like a dream for his naps today and has just gone to bed like an angel - he hasn't really cried or winged once today. A total pleasure.

So while we've missed DH a lot (Oscar was looking everywhere for him this morning in the bedroom), it's actually been lovely.

DH will be home tonight but very late. Can't wait to see him in the morning.

I stole this from Jess

on her blog Garish and Tweed

Your Birthdate: August 1

Your birthday suggests that are executive ability and leadership qualities in your makeup. A birthday on day 1 of any month gives a measure of will power and self-confidence, and very often a rather original approach. This 1 energy may diminish your ability and desire to handle details, preferring instead to paint with a broad brush. You may be sensitive, but your feelings stay rather repressed.

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

Don't know about the executive thing....!

Weightwatchers...

I lost 2lbs! Yay me. Back on track. I'm off out tonight to a friend's to watch Napoleon Dynamite on DVD and I've been very good and made my own air popped popcorn with fat free butter buds on it to take with me so I don't cheat. And I've got a WW chocolate bar too.

Still want cake though....

Oscar has tooth no 2 now! I must try and get a pic of them. He's being lovely with them - just a bit grumpy, no sleep interruption (thank god).

DH and I have his cold now so that hasn't been fun today - DH took the day off work so I left the house with Oz at 11am and got back at 6. Couldn't do with taking care of 2 babies all day. Oz and I went to the library for the nursery rhyme singalong, then to WW, then swimming in the afternoon with his girlfriend Mya who at 7 months is just as tall as him, and just as boisterous. Oscar can practically swim on his own now - i must get him some armbands.

Ok enough proud mumminess. I'm off to watch a movie.

In an effort to cheer myself up

In an effort to cheer myself up I did a personality test on Blogthings.com (the cut and paste into my blog spaced itself really weirdly so I've done it myself)

Your #1 Match: The Visionary
You are charming, outgoing, friendly. You make a good first impression. You possess good negotiating skills and can convince anyone of anything.Happy to be the center of attention, you love to tell stories and show off.You're very clever, but not disciplined enough to do well in structured environments.
You would make a great entrpreneur, marketing executive, or actor.

Your #2 Match: The Inspirer
You love being around people, and you are deeply committed to your friends. You are also unconventional, irreverant, and unimpressed by authority and rules. Incredibly perceptive, you can usually sense if someone has hidden motives. You use lots of colorful language and expressions. You're quite the storyteller!You would make an excellent entrepreneur, politician, or journalist.

Your #3 Match: The Giver
You strive to maintain harmony in relationships, and usually succeed.Articulate and enthusiastic, you are good at making personal connections.Sometimes you idealize relationships too much - and end up being let down.You find the most energy and comfort in social situations ... where you shine.
You would make a good writer, human resources director, or psychologist.

Your #4 Match: The Idealist
You are creative with a great imagination, living in your own inner world.Open minded and accepting, you strive for harmony in your important relationships.It takes a long time for people to get to know you. You are hesitant to let people get close.But once you care for someone, you do everything you can to help them grow and develop.
You would make an excellent writer, psychologist, or artist.

Your #5 Match: The Protector
You live your life with integrity, originality, vision, and creativity.Independent and stubborn, you rarely stray from your vision - no matter what it is.You are an excellent listener, with almost infinite patience.You have complex, deep feelings, and you take great care to express them.
You would make a great photographer, alternative medicine guru, or teacher.

Quite accurate I think. Well it passed the time and stopped me eating biscuits...

This is cute

I tried to put it on my right hand column thing under my blogroll but it didn't work - sent the whole column to the bottom of the page - maybe it's too wide - so any blog-geniuses out there, can you help?

Hungry.....

I'm trying to stick to my points this week. I put on 4lbs when I went to Weightwatchers last Wednesday (it was over 3 weeks but still...). Until that point I'd lost 25lbs. Now I'm back on 21. Since January. Which is ok. It's just getting boring a bit. And since I've been crap for 3 weeks, getting back on the wagon is tough. And I'm hungry.

I've been eating WW products and being good - and I know I could go downstairs and boil me up some yummy veggies and eat them till I puke. But I don't want to. I want to eat cake and chocolate and mashed potato (not all mixed up together....though I'm hungry enough to!)

Sometimes I get fed up and think **** it, I'll just be fat.

I started dieting 2 years before I got pregnant and lost 70lbs. (5 stone). Put on 2.5 stone (35lbs) when I got pregnant. I'm nearly at my pre-pregnancy weight as I lost a bit before I started WW this January....but it's hard to keep going.

I'm just fed up today (or un-fed up) and I can't blame it on PMT cos I just finished. I think it's because I had nothing to do today - we went to Greenwich and met DH for lunch but that was over too quick so I had an afternoon of staying in the house - which always makes me want to eat out of boredom.

*sigh* I'll perk up tomorrow. Just got to find my impetus again...

But not in solitary....

A milestone in his development - we lowered the cot today from it's newborn high up position to the lowest as he's starting to stand up in there. It took him a moment to get used to it, but he's gone to sleep like a dream so I'm assuming he's fine! He's got a bad cold though - which is why he looks a little dribbly and snotty!

Oscar in Jail! 

Oscar's music shuffle and a brief update

I've been having great fun buying some mad nursery rhyme/silly songs for Oscar's daytime mix the last couple of days. I have a lullaby album I made myself of a variety of songs I love and now I have Oscar's silly singalong songs:

1. Good Morning Starshine from the original film soundtrack Hair (LOVE that movie)
2. Skinny Marinky Dinky Dink - found it on ITunes and I love it!
3. If you're happy and you know it - a classic
4. The Clapping Song - Shirley Ellis - it's on a commercial over here and Oz loves it.
5. Songs for Little People - another ITunes find - a kind of doo wop with nursery rhymes
6. Alouette - trying to make the boy bilingual
7. Do Your Ears Hang Low - with 2 verses I hadn't heard including the classic "Can you semaphore your neighbour with the minimum of labour, do your ears sit high"
8. I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts - I have NO idea who sings this - it's on Disney's 100 songs for kids but it's hysterical
9. The Wonderful Thing about Tiggers - well my boy likes to bounce
10. 3 Little Fishies - very singalong
11. High Hopes - got to have a bit of Sinatra
12. 5 Little Speckle Frogs - sat on a speckled log....you see you can't help singing it
13. The Cat Came Back - so funny and slightly sick...
14. Puff the Magic Dragon - I'm not encouraging him to skin up, just like the song!
15. You Are My Sunshine - he is - my son, sunshine
16. Morningtown Ride - the Seekers - I listened to this as a kid and it brings back memories

So there you go - It's great - we put it on in the morning and dance round the kitchen making breakfast. I love the fact that he starts and ends the day with music.

My news - I got the audition that I went for last week - for a short film which is filming in Devon at the end of the month and will be going to Sundance and Cannes which could be promising. It's an amazing script. I'm also waiting to hear about a commercial shooting in Spain but it's a very long shot - I haven't even auditioned yet but I'm "pencilled" which means a possibility.

Friday Oscar and I went to Guildford to meet a couple of friends from Babycentre.co.uk - lovely fun time - Oz was so good as it was the longest drive he's done. He's still sleeping like a little angel and we're having such a good time.

Ok - off to cook dinner. Hope everyone is having a good weekend.

Busy busy busy!

Am I too busy for my own good? Today we were out of the house by 8.45, swimming lesson at 9.30, then straight to Lewisham to meet my folks - (my Daddy is home for today only so i made the most of him, as did Oscar who only gets to see him very occasionally) we had a wonderful lunch - the best dim sum in the world at Royal China. Then from there, I went back to Lewisham with Mum after a Krispy Kremes pitstop for dessert and wandered round the market. Then off to see my wonderful friend Amy who has a little boy of 19 months and is pregnant too. Home by 5.30.

Tomorrow, I have aqua aerobics at 9.30, meeting a friend at 11.30 for coffee, weightwatchers at lunchtime then...nothing all afternoon so I should do some work.

Thursday morning we're at the library, then sing and sign in the afternoon. Friday I'm off to Guildford to meet some internet buddies all day!

No wonder I'm knackered! But I can't stay home with baby all day or I'd go crazy.....

My mother has found my blog

Thanks to my sister........

Hello Mum! I'll have to be careful what I write then.....

A week of firsts

I didn't post this earlier cos I didn't want to jinx it, but since Wednesday we have cut out the 11pm feed and Oscar has been sleeping 7pm-7am straight through. No waking. The first night he woke once at around 10pm but since then nothing.

And today....he has a tooth! DH noticed it when he was feeding him - I'm going to try and get a picture if I can....

My boy is getting bigger! And better!